yerdua

I'm sailing on the Zaandam next week from montreal to boston and am trying to decide if I should buy one of HAL's internet plans or just use Verizon's $5/day Canada plan. All I really need is the ability to receive and make calls and texts in case of any emergency back home. I've looked at Verizon's coverage map and from what I can see, it should cover me in most areas we'll be sailing (st Lawrence seaway) and definitely in ports. The question is how far from land (and Verizon's signal) does the ship sail, especially coming around nova scotia and towards bar harbor? Have any Verizon users ever done this itinerary just with Verizon or do I really need to purchase one of HAL's plans? If I need to go with HAL, which plan - surf or social? I definitely will not be streaming. Appreciate any insight anyone may have.

Thanks HAL4NOW. I switched to Firefox and it worked. The problem must have been with Edge. 

Hi all. One week to go till our cruise and I'm trying to print out our express documents on HAL's website. While I'm not super technically knowledgeable, I'm not a novice either. I've turned off my pop up blocker, restarted my computer, and I still cannot get the docs to show up. I've gone to HAL's FAQs and followed their instructions... nothing. I get the "open/save" bar but they won't open and when I try to Save As they show up as a txt file with nothing but gibberish in it. Is anyone having a similar problem? Can anyone suggest anything (short of calling HAL on a holiday weekend)? BTW I'm on Windows 10.

3 hours ago, shrimpboat123 said:

 

You have to buy a package if you want to receive text calls from home. The ship's intranet only allows you to connect to certain web sites free of charge (HAL site, NY Times).

 

I believe all ships offer the unlimited internet plans now. Once you have signed up for a package, you can leave your phone logged into the internet continuously.

 

Thanks shrimpboat123. 

this will be my first cruise with a smart phone. My main objective is to be able to receive emergency calls or texts from home while we are away. Is it possible to piggy back on the ship's Wi-Fi without purchasing an internet package?  CC  has taught me to turn off mobile data (thank you... Would have just put in in airplane mode) and turn on wifi. I don't need the internet during the cruise, just wifi. If I do have to buy a plan, are there limits on minutes or can I leave my phone on continuously?

4 hours ago, Coral said:

 She also offers an amazing insurance policy that I can book at final payment and cover pre-existing conditions. That is difficult to come by with out paying an arm and a leg.

Coral, would you mind sharing the travel insurance company that your TA uses? Not asking for the TA's name (much as I would like to) just the insurance co. Thanks.

4 hours ago, Coral said:

 She also offers an amazing insurance policy that I can book at final payment and cover pre-existing conditions. That is difficult to come by with out paying an arm and a leg.

Coral, would you mind sharing the travel insurance company that your TA uses? Not asking for the TA's name (much as I would like to) just the insurance co. Thanks.

You got it when you booked initially. That promo has just expired, so consider yourself lucky. You said you paid the $1 deposit, but you got the ZPM extra OBC... Did you book with a future cruise deposit (normally $100pp deposit + OBC)?

In addition to the 2% rebate for executive members, also earn another 3% on all travel purchases by paying with the BB branded credit card. It all adds up.

I have always been pleased with how their agents handled negotiations with HAL for adjustments after price drops... even after final payment (sometimes a long time after final payment).

So right about always asking when there is a significant price drop. We are 1 month out from our cruise and the fare is almost 1/2 of what we booked at with a non refundable fare. We did have HALs CAR insurance. The difference was enough to make it worthwhile to cancel and rebook if necessary. Called our Big Box TA who worked with HAL to get us the net difference if we were to cancel and take all the hits, in the form of a future cruise credit and 2 $100  beverage cards for this cruise. Always ask. And  if its a significant enough $$ make sure you convey (nicely) that your alternative is to cancel and rebook. Can't say enough good things about these agents. 

Make sure you take a copy of your Expedia confirmation (showing all of E's added perks) with you when you board.  OBC from a TA will usually not show on your acct until after you board. At least that's the way it works with the Seattle  BB store. E 's confirmation should show all perks - theirs and the cruise line's.

Had the crab legs on Westerdam a couple years ago. Soooo disappointing. They appeared to be simmered in some kind of broth and were waterlogged and tasteless. IMO, stick with what the PG is known for - steak.

FYI - Bottled water pkg is now available in my cruise personalizer. 

Thanks LHT28.

Does anyone have any idea when Oceania will release their Cuba schedule for 2020-2021 beyond what is currently posted on their site (March 2020)?

Don t forget you only have 60 days to transfer to a TA if you're booking thru princess.

23 minutes ago, compozer said:

I faxed in the form yesterday morning and today the cruises were transferred to my TA.

you're fortunate. I faxed my transfer request Wednesday and got a rejection email today. This is my first cruise with princess and it's really not making me eager to book any more (although at least I'll be aware of the new rules). Guess I'll be spending time on the phone on monday to see if I can get this transfer through. Never received any notification from princess. Really a shabby way to treat customers.

5 hours ago, dickinson said:

Thrak - Have you taken everyone's advise that you CAN transfer your bookings to your TA before Dec 31?  They are doing this as a one time exception.  Obviously they got a lot of complaints (including me).  Earlier in this thread I said how I got mine transferred but now you should have no problem getting the 1x exception.

I requested a transfer 2 days ago using princess' transfer form, explaining my position and requesting a one time exception. Got an email today - no transfer allowed. They say i don't fit into their exception rules, whatever that may be. I will try to escalate this on Monday to a supervisor. Can anyone provide a direct number to the  reservation support dept?

Go to MY ACCOUNT, MY BOOKINGS, MANAGE PAYMENTS,  SHOW GUEST SUMMARY. HAL's OBC will be listed under each passenger. The only place I've seen for the beverage cards is on the HAL confirmation (along w/ OBC). Always print out a copy of the final confirmation  to take with you when you board. Oh, and there is no where on the HAL website that shows OBC from your TA. so take a copy of their confirmation with you too. That doesn't get posted by HAL to your account until you board.

Actually I do know they are both owned by CCL. In fact I own their stock. But, they are each separate profit centers and as such are responsible for their own bottom lines. Each has their own President/CEO, their own corporate structure. So, yes, I am still giving my cruise $$ to CCL, but HAL will show the income, not Princess.

https://www.theofficialboard.com/org-chart/carnival-2

I booked a cruise on line last spring on Sky for next fall on a $1 deposit day. It was a whim 18 months in advance of departure. Now I've gotten excited about this cruise and am looking forward to it. Current fares are now substantially higher with much less OBC, so cancelling and rebooking is not an option. I had intended to transfer it closed to final payment. My main purpose was to utilize Princess' cancel for any reason insurance, but not before it was truly necessary. So far all I've used of  princess' resources is a little bandwidth. 

i had intended to pick up a couple FCDs while on that cruise, which I now will not do. While I understand changing a policy going forward, but I don't understand not grandfathering prior bookings. I also cruise HAL, who runs many similar itineraries as princess. I'll be using my cruise budget with HAL going forward. Congrats Princess, you just lost a customer.

I am so sorry that you had to experience this - both the pickpocket and the less than sympathetic response from a ship officer. I do thank you for posting your experience. Its a good reminder that there are thieves everywhere. We are booked for a similar itinerary next year and will be more vigilant regarding our documents and valuables in ports. Recommendation is to only take a photocopy of your passport off the ship, use slash resistant accessories and for men, never carry your wallet in your back pocket. Also, be wary of any stranger getting too close to you. 

Sounds like she's booking a segment of a longer cruise. It's a guarantee to allow pax booking longer segments to book the cabin for the duration of their cruise. 

14 hours ago, Cindy said:

I just changed to late traditional from anytime on the Ruby next summer. I strongly prefer traditional, but the previous times didn’t work for me. We’ll see what the actual times are on board!🤔 

Just made the exact same change for the exact same reason. We usually do anytime since traditional is either too early or too late, given port times and excursions. TD was not waitlisted but both early seatings were for Sky's TA next fall. 

Their turn around is amazing. I faxed my brokerage statement at 3pm. The OBC was posted to my booking w/in 5 min of receipt. On a cruise for Nov 2019. Very impressive.